What medical problems occur with spina bifida?
Common medical problems include: Hydrocephalus: About 70 to 90 percent of children with myelomeningocele develop hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid in and around the brain(4). Cerebrospinal fluid cushions and protects the brain and spinal cord. When the fluid is unable to circulate normally, it collects in and around the brain, causing the head to be enlarged. Without treatment, hydrocephalus can cause brain damage and mental retardation. Doctors usually treat hydrocephalus by surgically inserting a tube called a shunt that drains the excess fluid. The shunt runs under the skin into the chest or abdomen, and the fluid passes harmlessly into the childs body. A newer surgical procedure called endoscopic third ventriculostomy creates a new pathway for draining cerebrospinal fluid. This procedure may be recommended for some children older than 6 months, including some who experience shunt malfunctions(5). Chiari II malformation: Nearly all children with myelomeningocele have an abnormal ch
